Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Opinions expressed in this episode are personal. They do not necessarily reflect the views of this streaming platform.
[00:00:08] Hello, wonderful people, and welcome to a very special episode of let's Be Diverse. I'm your host, Andrew Stout. This episode is dedicated to all my loved ones who supported me through this journey. Those who have left us will always be in our hearts and will Never be forgotten. 200 episodes, 200 conversations filled with stories and insights. Powerful moments that remind us why diverse voices matter. And this is where we are today, friends. Today marks 200 episodes, a feat that I'm super proud of and happy to share with you all today. In this episode, I want to take you behind the mic into how leadership played a key role in helping me launch this podcast. And throughout today's celebration, you'll also hear from some of the incredible guests who helped me shape let's Be Diverse into what it is today. So get comfy, turn up the volume, and let's take a little walk down memory lane together.
[00:00:59] My name is Alex Bowden, and I am the CEO and founder of People First Talent and Retention Consulting. So let me tell you a little bit about Andrew.
[00:01:09] Andrew reached out to me a little over a year ago and invited me on his podcast.
[00:01:14] And I met with him and immediately knew that no matter what this podcast was about, he was someone that I'd be willing to work with. He is just so bright, so charismatic, so genuine, and not only a co worker or a colleague or a collaborator, but genuinely a friend.
[00:01:37] He's someone that to this day still reaches out to check in on me from time to time to make sure we stay connected.
[00:01:45] I know it's. It's authentic, and for that I am so grateful. And he's someone that I just adore working with. He is good people, he connects good people and just a very bright light. So love working with Andrew, hope to continue working with him for a long time, and congratulations on 200 episodes of the podcast.
[00:02:10] Hey, Andrew, Coach Jen Manarelli here. I am so excited for you. Just want to congratulate on 200 episodes of your podcast. That is amazing. You are amazing. And I'm super grateful for having had the opportunity to do a podcast with you. It was super fun.
[00:02:28] You were so genuine. You asked such great questions and really dove in deep, and I really appreciate that. So thank you again for having me on. Congrats.
[00:02:37] And not only are you an awesome podcast host, but you are a wonderful friend and I'm grateful for you. Thanks so much and congrats.
[00:02:48] I'm Sally Arkel Bowles, founder of Sovereign Soul Mastery and host of the Sovereign Soul Retreats, where legacy meets luxury and leadership meets embodiment. A few years ago, I met Andrew Stout online, and today I just want to take a moment to say congratulations, Andrew, on everything that you've built and embodied this past year. Watching your journey unfold has been incredibly inspiring. Not because it's been perfect, but because it's been honest, human, and deeply purpose driven.
[00:03:19] Working with you has always felt grounded in something real. You don't just do podcasting or visibility.
[00:03:26] You create connection. You lead with integrity, curiosity, and genuine care for the people you work with. And that shows in everything that you touch, from the conversations you host to the communities you build to the way you champion other voices.
[00:03:42] What I admire most is your commitment to rapport over transactions. You make people feel seen, heard, and valued, and that's very rare.
[00:03:53] You show up consistently, even when growth feels uncomfortable, and you model what it looks like to keep going with humility, courage and grace. It's been an absolute pleasure working alongside you and witnessing the impact that you're making, not only on your podcast, but also in the lives of the people that you're supporting.
[00:04:15] So congratulations on an incredible year.
[00:04:19] You're just getting started, Andrew, and I can't wait to see what unfolds next. Here's to more connection, more impact, and more meaningful conversations in 2026.
[00:04:33] My name is Eyvette Raposo, congratulating Andrew stout on his 200th episode of the let's Be Diverse podcast. Working with Andrew myself was such a great experience right from the introduction all the way through to taping. I highly recommend working with Andrew. I recommend listening to his podcast, and I'm excited to see where this all goes.
[00:04:59] Hi, this is Heather Redfern from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
[00:05:02] Andrew, you should be so proud of your milestone that you're hitting 200 episodes. That's just amazing. Congratulations.
[00:05:11] I was on with you about a year and a half ago talking about internal communication and leadership. We had a great conversation. You were so generous with your time and your guidance, and I was a bit nervous as we started the episode. I remember, but. But just having you on the other side was reassuring.
[00:05:32] And, you know, I really relied on your expertise to let me focus on what I know best. So thank you so much for that.
[00:05:42] I wish you many, many more episodes.
[00:05:45] You are so curious in your approach. When you do talk with your guests, you bring the best out of them and I just know you're going to continue to be successful. So, again, congratulations. I hope we can all look forward to many more episodes.
[00:06:03] And thanks for being you and being so generous. Like I say, with your time, your guidance and just your overall positivity.
[00:06:14] Best wishes and keep going strong.
[00:06:19] Hey, Andrew, this is Shelly Starks with Inline Consulting Services.
[00:06:23] Just wanted to say congratulations on your 200th episode. That's a huge, huge thing for you to reach. I know that there's been a lot of work, a lot of hard work that's gone into that and a lot of thought and preparation for your let's Be Diverse podcast.
[00:06:40] I did want to just let you know that I enjoyed being on the podcast. I thought the questions were thoughtful and I definitely believe that your mission and your vision for where you see this going and the people you see it serving is really going to have a huge impact for the coming year. So thanks for including me in that success.
[00:07:02] My name is Kelsey Kaminki.
[00:07:05] I wanted to give a huge shout out and congratulations to Andrew Stout and the let's Be Diverse podcast for the 200th episode, which is so amazing. So congratulations, Andrew. You are a wonderful human.
[00:07:21] I have really, truly enjoyed working with you and learning from you and from the podcast as well. So congratulations. I Wish you another 200 successful podcasts.
[00:07:34] Hi, this is Brittany Phillips and I had the pleasure of being a guest on the let's Be Diverse podcast.
[00:07:43] I want to congratulate Andrew on celebrating 200 episodes.
[00:07:47] Way to go.
[00:07:50] Hey Andrew, it's your friend Kate Teves, AKA the HR Pro. And I want to congratulate you on hitting the 200 episode milestone and and wish you so many more hundreds of episodes in the future. You have been an incredible force of nature to work with, to collaborate on podcasts and I think you bring such a unique blend of knowledge, expertise and empathy to the table, which is so crucial not only to the people that you work with, but also to the listeners of your podcast. Congratulations again, my friend. I'm so happy for you and I can't wait to hear hear more and more of your successes in the future.
[00:08:33] Hello, this is Lisa boat, host of Transforming 45.
[00:08:38] Andrew, congratulations on hitting 200 episodes. That is such a huge milestone. I loved being on your show. It was such a thoughtful and engaging experience.
[00:08:50] I'm truly grateful for the connections that you have helped me to make, for the incredible guests that you've introduced to my show transforming 45, and for your consistent support.
[00:09:02] It's been wonderful to collaborate with you who is so committed to bringing diverse voices and meaningful conversations to the world.
[00:09:13] Hi, I'm Jill Drater and working with Andrew Stout has been incredible. It has opened so many doors to networks and people that I didn't know because he is an expert networker. And through his podcast, he extended his voice and his connection to talk to people about things that matter.
[00:09:34] So two years ago in 2023, I did a podcast with Andrew on Burnout and was talking to people about navigating the challenges of burnout. This is something I talk about in people's lives and in people's businesses and in the corporations that they work for, and also organizations not for profits and charities where people want to do good, want to feel seen, heard, valued, and understood.
[00:09:59] And sometimes just the stress and bear of the overload of the work or all of the stuff on our plate is too much.
[00:10:07] So that's something someone like Andrew and I can relate to. Even though we come from two different parts of Canada, we have felt unappreciated, we have felt helpless, and we have felt like something's wrong and we didn't know what's wrong. So connecting on a podcast like that is an incredible way to be able to have these conversations, have a greater reach with other people.
[00:10:31] I was able, able to add more connections of people from his network, people from mine talked about what I talked about on the podcast. Cause I didn't realize how many people listen to podcasts while they work. I'm somebody who's in silence a lot, and that opened for me the opportunity to do more of that as well. So, Andrew, thank you so much and congrats on everything that's next. And I really look forward to seeing what's ahead for you.
[00:10:56] Hey, Andrew, Dwayne Douglas here. Listen, thank you for everything you did for me last year in 2025, and all the best for 2026. You're doing some great work. You're helping out a lot of people. You're getting the message out, and I really appreciate it. So keep it up.
[00:11:12] Looking forward to a good year, and hopefully we can get together and do some other good things moving forward. Talk to you soon.
[00:11:19] Where it all began. So when people ask me how I started this podcast, the truth is I didn't plan for it to become what it is today. But what I did know was that I was tired of conversations that didn't reflect the full picture. I wanted to hear from leaders, thinkers, creators, educators, disruptors, and people doing the work and making a difference. Leadership gave me that clarity. It wasn't just about a job title or position. Leadership showed up in the choices I made in the Courage to speak up in the ability to start something before I felt ready. That's how let's Be Diverse was born. The guests who made this possible, every guest who said yes brought something different to the table. Their voices, experience, and honesty made this platform real. They didn't just come on to share their expertise, they came to share their journeys. And that's what leadership is about. Showing up fully, even when it's uncomfortable, even when it's vulnerable.
[00:12:16] Hey, Andrew, Courtney Szolnik here, and I just wanted to give a shout out to you and congratulate you on hitting your 200th podcast episode. That's truly incredible. But knowing what I know of you, it comes as no surprise. It was a joy to get to be on your show and it's been a real honor getting to know you over the last couple of years. You have a really gentle presence.
[00:12:43] You're so kind, and I really appreciate all the connections that you've made for me on LinkedIn. I've met some amazing people through you, and again, I'm just so grateful. Grateful to know you and for our connection. Wishing you all the best and looking forward to listening to many more future episodes on your show. Take care.
[00:13:08] Hey, Andrew, this is Heather Grubb, and I'm wanting to wish you a huge congratulations on episode 200. That's a huge milestone and you should be so proud of yourself.
[00:13:17] This podcast that you've created is such a great platform for leaders to come together to discuss the topics we're so passionate about. You've really created an excellent opportunity for us to share different perspectives, learn from our colleagues, and grow our networks all at the same time. My guest spot on the show was actually my very first time being on a podcast, so I was a little nervous going in, but you really made the experience so inviting and natural, and I truly enjoyed our conversation.
[00:13:44] Thank you for inviting me to lend my voice to these important conversations. I wish you all the best in the future and look forward to hearing what topics you have in store for 2026.
[00:13:54] Take care.
[00:13:57] Hi, this is Amy Michaels with Wolf Pack HR and I just want to congratulate Andrew stau on his 200th episode of let's Be Diverse.
[00:14:09] What a great podcast. I can't say enough about Andrew and the podcast, especially in this day and age with diversity, equity, inclusion kind of being under attack in the United States.
[00:14:24] I commend Andrew on his kindness, how caring he is, and how his podcast is creating a platform for people to be able to genuinely connect as humans and do really great things together.
[00:14:48] I wholeheartedly support his efforts and appreciate all of the guests that have been on his podcast since its origination and it just is a testimony to how connected we are regardless of where we're at in this world.
[00:15:12] Being a platform for.
[00:15:19] Expansion and growth, I believe that he has been able to connect people of different backgrounds and professions towards a common goal and I just support him and continue to tune in.
[00:15:45] And if you haven't had a chance to be a guest, I would highly recommend connecting with him and sharing this podcast with as many people as possible.
[00:15:59] Thank you very much and let's Be Diverse you hey Andrew, Dr. Colleen Saringer here. It was such an honor to be invited to be a guest on your podcast.
[00:16:20] Loved working with you. Super easy, enjoyable. We probably could have had a three hour conversation if time allowed us to do so. But other than that, just want to congratulate you on celebrating the great work that you've been doing. 200 episodes. That's amazing.
[00:16:38] Again, thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of your platform.
[00:16:45] Arie de Groat, Founder of Upward and Inward Congratulations Andrew. I'm reaching 200 episodes.
[00:16:55] Working with Andrew has been such an easy yes, he he. Well first he's really human in heart centered. First he developed a relationship through LinkedIn. We connected over time, got to know and trust one another and then I actually came onto his podcast for the first podcast guest experience. I've done. I've done Other Sense and he was so warm and asked great questions and really built on to the whole experience.
[00:17:33] Since then he's been a great connector between me and other potential podcast opportunities.
[00:17:40] And even though he leads with human and heart, he has great follow through and attention to details and that really keeps my goals of getting more connected with podcast hosts at the forefront without being overwhelming. So I really have loved working with him. He's such a delight and a great human to have in your orbit.
[00:18:07] My name is Sarah Bordeaux with purposed hr. I had the pleasure of joining Andrew Stow on the let's Be Diverse podcast a few months back while we spoke on the importance of HR's role in leading investigations.
[00:18:19] Andrew Stout is a wonderful, very inquisitive and supportive interviewer. He is a great connector of people as you can see from his LinkedIn. Andrew, congratulations on your 200th episode and thanks for the work that you do. Congratulations.
[00:18:37] Hi, this is Martha Fernandez, the host of the podcast hr. Are you listening? And today I want to say congrats to Andrew stout for his 200 episodes. Big milestone right there.
[00:18:49] I'm so happy that let's Be Diverse has achieved this milestone.
[00:18:54] I'm so proud of you. I'm very honored to have, you know, just met you and. And Cross Path and also being able to collaborate with you.
[00:19:05] I have to say, guys, Andrew has done an incredible job with his podcast on the content that he provides to society.
[00:19:12] I look forward to see the podcast grow and continue to touch people's lives and share knowledge and. And empower people at the end of the day right with this information that he shares. So, anyways, congrats, Andrew. I look forward to seeing you grow more and for the next milestone, 500 episodes.
[00:19:33] Anyways, ciao, guys.
[00:19:37] This is Susie Goodwin and Andrea. I want to say congratulations to you on 200 episodes of let's Be Diverse. What an incredible wealth of information. I enjoyed being on the show with you total rewards episode, and it was so great to work with you. You are professional, you are empathetic, and you guide these conversations in such a meaningful and applicable way. Again, congratulations on two hundi.
[00:20:08] Hello, Andrew, it's Carly Grove with Canton C Consulting. I hear a huge congratulations are in order.
[00:20:17] 200 episodes.
[00:20:19] Wow.
[00:20:21] That is incredible. They say that many podcasts don't make it past 100, and you obliterated that by doubling that. That is incredible. 200 incredible episodes with countless of dozens of amazing guests. And I am so, so deeply honored that I got to be one of those guests. It was such a pleasure working with you on your podcast. Your questions. I was so impressed by your questions. The way they felt flowed, the depth of them, the natural cadence of the conversation, the way that it just brought the conversation and the topic to light.
[00:20:58] Brought the conversation to life. Sorry, it's like something was not right there. It brought the conversation to life in just an absolute beautiful way. And I am beyond excited to say congratulations for obliterating statistics.
[00:21:15] What are you now in the top? Top 1%? Top 2%.
[00:21:20] Hey, Andrew, Melissa pike here of Melissa Pike Health and Life Coaching, wanted to send you a huge Congrats on your 200th episode of your podcast, let's Be Diverse. Incredible, incredible feat. And you are absolutely nailing it.
[00:21:39] Um, and I just wanted to say, when I was a guest on your podcast and talking about all things health and wellness in the workplace, I had a beautiful experience.
[00:21:49] I felt very safe and listened to, and I really enjoyed our conversation. So again, I just want to give you a huge Congrats on your 200th episode. And here's to 200 plus episodes to come. All the best.
[00:22:08] Congratulations to the let's Be Diverse podcast on the 200th episode.
[00:22:14] My name is Jen Farr and I'm a Crisis to Creation coach and author of the Treehouse Principle. I met with Andrew just recently for our podcast and it was wonderful to work with him and be immersive in the questions around Breakdown in Leadership and how we can diversify and move forward beyond that particular piece.
[00:22:40] So once again, congratulations and all the best.
[00:22:44] How Leadership shaped Me as a host. I've worn many hats in my career. I've been a virtual assistant, I've been administrative support. I was an entrepreneur. I was in sales, customer service. And through it all, leadership kept showing up. It taught me how to listen deeply, ask better questions, build a community, adapt and grow, and keep going when things got tough. Starting this podcast meant learning to lead in a new way. Not behind the scenes, but front and center. It pushed me to trust my voice and to hold space for others to do the same. Leadership isn't just about guiding others. Sometimes it's about guiding yourself back to purpose.
[00:23:26] Hey Andrew, Ashley Cox here wishing you the most heartfelt Congratulations on celebrating 200 episodes of the let's Be Diverse podcast. What an incredible milestone, my friend, and what a journey. I deeply appreciate the way that you pour your kind and caring self into everything you do in life and business and it clearly shows the space that you've created here for for authentic people centered conversations is truly beautiful and so inspiring. You are a gift to this world and I am so grateful to know and work with you. So woo hoo on 200 episodes. I cannot wait to see what you create with the next 200.
[00:24:08] Hey, this is Chasen Forehand and I wanted to tell you how awesome it was to be part of Andrew Stout's Let's Be Diverse podcast.
[00:24:18] What a fantastic show and he is celebrating 200 episodes. How fantastic is that? So join me in celebrating with him and recognizing how wonderful let's Be Diverse Podcast is.
[00:24:34] Hey Andrew Claudio here with a huge, huge congratulations on your 200 episodes.
[00:24:44] That is quite a feat. That's quite a lot of conversations and undoubtedly a lot of coffee as well.
[00:24:52] Seriously though, it was a true pleasure being guest on your podcast. I enjoyed the entire process.
[00:25:00] You are tackling this like a real pro. So many, many thanks for having me on your show. And here's to the next 200 and beyond. I look forward to it. See you around.
[00:25:16] Bye.
[00:25:20] Hey Andrew, this is Dr. Carrie Graham. I wanted to send you a super big congratulations on almost hitting 200 episodes. I remember being one of your early guests, and the conversation was one that I will forever remember. You just made me feel so incredibly comfortable and we shared some great laughs and incredible insight during our time together.
[00:25:49] Thank you for having me. You're an incredible host. And most importantly, congratulations on your dedication to bringing let's be diverse to the larger audience.
[00:26:01] Congratulations, Andrew.
[00:26:07] This is Kaitlyn Rios with face with grace.
[00:26:10] 200 episodes. How freaking cool is that? I am so excited for you. I'm so proud of you. So proud to know you and call you not only a friend, but a colleague.
[00:26:22] Meeting you through your podcast, gosh, what a year ago or more now, has literally changed the trajectory of my life and I'm just so grateful to have crossed paths with you in this lifetime and I'm. I'm just so stoked for you and everything that you're building.
[00:26:42] Being top 2% globally is just like an incredible milestone for you and everything that you're doing and all the people that you're interacting with. I want you to remember how many lives you've touched and how many lives you've intersected. You are a connector of people by nature, and that is your superpower and your gift, and you're just so great at it. And I'm just so thankful to know you and so proud to be a part of everything you've built and just want to wish you the biggest congratulations on your success.
[00:27:15] Go you, go us and keep on being awesome.
[00:27:21] Moments that move me. I want to share a quick story. There was a time early on when I wasn't sure this podcast would work. I didn't have all the fancy gear, and I wasn't sure people would actually listen. But one guest, I will never forget this, told me after our episode that was the first time I felt heard in a long time. That moment shifted everything for me. It reminded me that impact isn't measured in downloads, it's measured in connection. And that's what this podcast is all about. And I can promise you it'll always be that way.
[00:27:52] Hey, it is Lindsay Maza from the Self Love and Leadership episode. And I just want to say, say to Andrew, congratulations on 200 episodes. I mean, it's such a feat.
[00:28:04] And I really, really am in awe of your resilience and everything that you've created through this podcast.
[00:28:14] Working with Andrew was just so amazing. He, you know, was professional from the start and he really made me feel comfortable, and I really appreciate that he saw the need for this type of content, for self love and leadership and I appreciate him shining light on it, and I loved our conversation. And ever since then, he's kept me up to date, he's connected me with other women in leadership, and it's just been such, you know, an honor to have him as a part of my life. So congratulations again, Andrew, and congratulations to the pod on 200 episodes. And I'm so excited to listen to 200 more.
[00:29:02] Bye.
[00:29:06] Congratulations, Andrew, on 200 episodes of your podcast. What an incredible feat. I am celebrating along with you.
[00:29:17] This is Christy Holt here, AKA the Happiness Hussy. And I absolutely adored our conversation about relationships and creating your happy. So, of course I want to celebrate this colossal milestone with you, and I wish you absolutely nothing but the very best.
[00:29:37] Hey, this is Patty Ariza. Congrats, Andrew, on 200 episodes.
[00:29:44] That's absolutely incredible.
[00:29:47] It was an absolute joy being a guest on your podcast. It will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the first podcast that I ever was a guest on, and I was a nervous wreck, having never done that before.
[00:30:04] And Andrew just was great at reassuring me, preparing me, and really leading through the entire conversation, as well as asking really good questions that help to spark a good conversation. I'm so grateful to have been one of the episodes of Andrew's podcast, and I highly recommend giving his podcast a listen. There's a lot of incredible people and guests, and I'm honored to have been one of them. Congrats again, Andrew, and keep it up.
[00:30:38] My name is Sarah Bordeaux with Purposed hr. I had the pleasure of joining Andrew Stout on the let's Be Diverse podcast a few months back, while we spoke on the importance of HR's role in leading investigations.
[00:30:51] Andrew Stout is a wonderful, very inquisitive and supportive interviewer. He is a great connector of people, as you can see from his LinkedIn. Andrew, congratulations on your 200th episode, and thanks for the work that you do. Congratulations.
[00:31:09] Hi, this is Heather Redfern from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
[00:31:13] Andrew, you should be so proud of your milestone that you're hitting 200 episodes. That's just amazing. Congratulations.
[00:31:21] I was on with you about a year and a half ago talking about internal communication and leadership. We had a great conversation.
[00:31:30] You were so generous with your time and your guidance, and I was a bit nervous as we started the episode. I remember, but just having you on the other side was reassuring.
[00:31:42] And, you know, I really relied on your expertise to let me focus on what I know best. So thank you so much for that.
[00:31:53] I wish you many, many more episodes.
[00:31:56] You are so curious in your approach. When you do talk with your guests, you bring the best out of them and I just know you're going to continue to be successful. So again, congratulations. I hope we can all look forward to many more episodes.
[00:32:14] And thanks for being you and being so generous. Like I say with your time, your guidance and just your overall positivity.
[00:32:24] Best wishes and keep going strong.
[00:32:28] Where do we go from here? Well, I can promise you more voices, more vulnerability, and more vision. Let's Be Diverse is growing people and I want you to all keep growing with us. We've got a new series called Voices of Impact where we shine a light on amazing people. We're going to have more guests and I also have some more surprises coming down the road. If you've been impacted by this show, I'd love to hear from you like and follow this episode. Tag us on Social, send a voice note and leave a review. Let me know which episode changed something for you. Thank you to everyone who took the time to send a kind message and thank you to each guest for your amazing stories. It means more to me than you'll ever know. On behalf of on behalf of let's Be Diverse podcast, I'd like to thank you all for listening today and until next time. Be safe. And remember everyone, if we all work together, we can accomplish anything.
